Hands free means GPS and iPods too
Stay on the right side of the law but still enjoy your tunes
By Mathieu Yuill
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2010
Hands-free driving laws have been sweeping across the nation, but most news reports warn only about using cellphones while behind the wheel. The legislation, however, also covers GPS units, iPods and other portable media players. While several aftermarket products allow drivers to connect Bluetooth-enabled phones to what basically amounts to a glorified speaker system, some manufacturers have developed sophisticated and intuitive systems that do more than just connect to your phone. These include simpler GPS navigation and the ability to control volume, select playlists and manage messages.
Ford Sync and Ford Work Solutions
Sync is based on a very simple premise: keep your hands on the wheel, and Ford was the first manufacturer to develop a system that went further than just using your vehicle’s stereo for making and receiving calls. Dubbed Ford Sync, it was first introduced in 2007 as an available option in some 2008 models.
Sync delivers on the “convergence” concept of the early 2000s. Developed by Microsoft, the system runs on an integrated 2GB flash memory card running the Microsoft Auto operating system.
Sync performs three functions: it works with your mobile phone, plays and manages music, and gives you information like turn-by-turn navigation. The basic Sync setup employs a two-line display reminiscent of the mid-1990s.
In addition to phone calls, it can also handle text messages, reading them out and offering about a dozen canned responses such as “Call me,” “Be there in 10/20 minutes,” and, of course, “I love you.”
If your phone is your MP3 player as well, there’s a USB port in the armrest that allows you to control your player by selecting pre-set playlists, or sorting by artist or genre using voice inputs. But if you don’t have an integrated media player, a USB drive will do the trick.
Linking your phone via Bluetooth to your automobile is simple, and Ford’s voice-recognition software is top class. But if you and Sync can’t agree on how an artist or song name is pronounced, you can ask Sync to tell you who’s playing or what song is on.
New to Sync is turn-by-turn GPS navigation. Coming down the pipe is the ability to send diagnostic reports to a dealer. If, for example, your check engine light comes on, you can request information from a dealer on the best course of action. Also, an optional eight-inch screen will be able to play stored video while the car is parked.
Key to Sync is that it’s upgradeable. As Ford releases updates to improve the voice recognition software or the capabilities of handset communication, users can download updates from www.myfordsync.com to a thumb drive and install them using the USB port in the car.
Certain updates, however, require a trip to the dealership. For example, Sync recognizes when the airbags have been deployed and asks if you’d like to call 911. If you don’t respond in five seconds it goes ahead and makes the call. An update to this feature requires that a dealer handle the installation to ensure it’s done properly.
Many in-car communications systems are only available as upgrade options. Sync has been offered on its own since introduction, hovering around the $500 mark; lately it’s been used as an incentive and is often offered for free.
Infiniti
Slick in-car user interfaces are rare, but Infiniti and its sister brand Nissan are the exception.
The Bluetooth pairing with a mobile phone is very simple. Infiniti’s system requires the user to go through a simple setup process for the voice recognition, and will then work with your phone’s contact list. With the exception of starting this process, there’s no need to touch the screen at all.
The navigation system takes advantage of voice recognition in a smart way, including lookup of nearby gas stations, ATM machines and restaurants.
iPod users will feel especially at home, as the on-screen menu mimics the Apple interface. Steering-wheel mounted controls adjust volume and allow iPod-type pivots and clicks for navigating.
Porsche Communication System (PCM)
Porsche engineers worked to reduce the steps required to control a phone, media player and navigation system.
The PCM’s 6.5-inch screen is integrated with the centre console in the minimalist manner that’s been Porsche’s hallmark. Many touch-screen systems offer a soft button for every imaginable function, but Porsche employs actual buttons labeled with their function. This makes the system easier to use.
PCM also employs a small display in the tachometer that shows phonebook information and tells you who is calling.
Third-party devices
Third-party devices often work very well and if you have a vehicle that doesn’t have a factory system installed these are worth investigating.
Keep in mind that these systems—such as dash-mounted GPS units—often take up a lot of real estate in your vehicle and may be distracting to the driver, as controls are not integrated into steering wheels and the car was not designed around their use.
Ford Sync and Ford Work Solutions
Sync is based on a very simple premise: keep your hands on the wheel, and Ford was the first manufacturer to develop a system that went further than just using your vehicle’s stereo for making and receiving calls. Dubbed Ford Sync, it was first introduced in 2007 as an available option in some 2008 models.
Sync delivers on the “convergence” concept of the early 2000s. Developed by Microsoft, the system runs on an integrated 2GB flash memory card running the Microsoft Auto operating system.
Sync performs three functions: it works with your mobile phone, plays and manages music, and gives you information like turn-by-turn navigation. The basic Sync setup employs a two-line display reminiscent of the mid-1990s.
In addition to phone calls, it can also handle text messages, reading them out and offering about a dozen canned responses such as “Call me,” “Be there in 10/20 minutes,” and, of course, “I love you.”
If your phone is your MP3 player as well, there’s a USB port in the armrest that allows you to control your player by selecting pre-set playlists, or sorting by artist or genre using voice inputs. But if you don’t have an integrated media player, a USB drive will do the trick.
Linking your phone via Bluetooth to your automobile is simple, and Ford’s voice-recognition software is top class. But if you and Sync can’t agree on how an artist or song name is pronounced, you can ask Sync to tell you who’s playing or what song is on.
New to Sync is turn-by-turn GPS navigation. Coming down the pipe is the ability to send diagnostic reports to a dealer. If, for example, your check engine light comes on, you can request information from a dealer on the best course of action. Also, an optional eight-inch screen will be able to play stored video while the car is parked.
Key to Sync is that it’s upgradeable. As Ford releases updates to improve the voice recognition software or the capabilities of handset communication, users can download updates from www.myfordsync.com to a thumb drive and install them using the USB port in the car.
Certain updates, however, require a trip to the dealership. For example, Sync recognizes when the airbags have been deployed and asks if you’d like to call 911. If you don’t respond in five seconds it goes ahead and makes the call. An update to this feature requires that a dealer handle the installation to ensure it’s done properly.
Many in-car communications systems are only available as upgrade options. Sync has been offered on its own since introduction, hovering around the $500 mark; lately it’s been used as an incentive and is often offered for free.
Infiniti
Slick in-car user interfaces are rare, but Infiniti and its sister brand Nissan are the exception.
The Bluetooth pairing with a mobile phone is very simple. Infiniti’s system requires the user to go through a simple setup process for the voice recognition, and will then work with your phone’s contact list. With the exception of starting this process, there’s no need to touch the screen at all.
The navigation system takes advantage of voice recognition in a smart way, including lookup of nearby gas stations, ATM machines and restaurants.
iPod users will feel especially at home, as the on-screen menu mimics the Apple interface. Steering-wheel mounted controls adjust volume and allow iPod-type pivots and clicks for navigating.
Porsche Communication System (PCM)
Porsche engineers worked to reduce the steps required to control a phone, media player and navigation system.
The PCM’s 6.5-inch screen is integrated with the centre console in the minimalist manner that’s been Porsche’s hallmark. Many touch-screen systems offer a soft button for every imaginable function, but Porsche employs actual buttons labeled with their function. This makes the system easier to use.
PCM also employs a small display in the tachometer that shows phonebook information and tells you who is calling.
Third-party devices
Third-party devices often work very well and if you have a vehicle that doesn’t have a factory system installed these are worth investigating.
Keep in mind that these systems—such as dash-mounted GPS units—often take up a lot of real estate in your vehicle and may be distracting to the driver, as controls are not integrated into steering wheels and the car was not designed around their use.
